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Biomedical subjects

Stanislas Bruley des Varannes

Publications and source records attributed to Stanislas Bruley des Varannes.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Esophageal pH-impedance monitoring and symptom analysis in GERD: a study in patients off and on therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Combined esophageal pH-impedance monitoring allows detection of nearly all gastroesophageal reflux episodes, acid as well as nonacid. However, the role of nonacid reflux in the pathogenesis of symptoms is poorly known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of this technique in patients with suspected reflux symptoms while on or off PPI therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The recordings of 150 patients recruited at seven academic centers with symptoms possibly related to gastroesophageal reflux were analyzed. Reflux events were detected visually using impedance (Sandhill, CO) and then characterized by pHmetry as acid or nonacid reflux. The temporal relationship between symptoms and reflux episodes was analyzed: a symptom association probability (SAP) > or =95% was considered indicative of a positive association. RESULTS: One hundred fifty patients were included, 102 women (mean age 52 +/- 14 yr, range 16-84). Among the 79 patients off PPI, five did not report any symptom during the recording period. A positive SAP was found in 41 of the 74 symptomatic patients (55.4%), including acid reflux in 23 (31.1%), nonacid reflux in three (4.1%), and acid and nonacid in 15 (20.3%). In the group of patients on PPI (N = 71, 46 women, mean age 51 +/- 15 yr), 11 were asymptomatic during the study, SAP was positive in 22 of the 60 symptomatic patients (36.7%), including acid reflux in three (5.0%), nonacid reflux in 10 (16.7%), and acid and nonacid in nine (15.0%). The symptoms most frequently associated with nonacid reflux were regurgitation and cough. CONCLUSION: Adding impedance to pH monitoring improves the diagnostic yield and allows better symptom analysis than pHmetry alone, mainly in patients on PPI therapy. The impact of this improved diagnostic value on gastroesophageal reflux disease management remains to be investigated by outcome studies.

Adolescent↗

Rabeprazole test for the diagnosis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: results of a study in a primary care setting.

AIM: To determine the diagnostic value of the rabeprazole test in patients seen by general practitioners. METHODS: Eighty-three patients with symptoms suggestive of GERD were enrolled by general practitioners in this multi-centre, randomized and double-blind study. All patients received either rabeprazole (20 mg bid) or a placebo for one week. The diagnosis of GERD was established on the presence of mucosal breaks at endoscopy and/or an abnormal esophageal 24-h pH test. The test was considered to be positive if patients reported at least a "clear improvement" of symptoms on a 7-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The sensitivities of the test for rabeprazole and the placebo were 83% and 40%, respectively. The corresponding specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 45% and 67%, 71% and 71%, and 62% and 35%, respectively. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis confirmed that the best discriminatory cut-off corresponded to description of "clear improvement". CONCLUSION: The poor specificity of the proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) test does not support such an approach to establish a diagnosis of GERD in a primary care setting.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Irritable bowel syndrome in France: a common, debilitating and costly disorder.

OBJECTIVE: This epidemiological investigation aims to measure the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the general population using the Rome II criteria and to evaluate the medical management including treatments and the impact of IBS on patient life. METHODS: A nationally representative sample of 20,000 French subjects, aged 18 years and over, were interviewed by SOFRES (French Public Opinion Poll Institute) in May 2001. In a second phase (June/July 2001), a 48-question self-administered questionnaire was given to the subjects who have been selected during the first phase as suffering from IBS (Rome II criteria). RESULTS: The prevalence of IBS was 4.7% (confidence interval, 4.36-5.04% with 5% risk) with a predominance in women (5.7% versus 3.7%, P < 0.01). The abdominal pain was often longstanding (> 5 years, 50%), intense (43%) and nocturnal (35%). During the most recent painful episode the levels of associated transit problems were almost equally divided between diarrhoea (36%), constipation (29%) and alternate episodes of both (31%). Apart from pain, bloating was given as the most frequent (73%) and most troublesome (24%) symptom. Since the onset, 80% of subjects with IBS had consulted a doctor (90% consulted a general physician, 57% a gastroenterologist, 50% both) and of these, 80% consulted within the previous 12 months. Sixty-seven per cent of subjects underwent additional investigations since the start of their illness (average of 3.4 examinations per patient examined: colonoscopy, 34.1%; laboratory tests, 34%; and abdominal ultrasound, 27.7%). Over the previous 12 months, 8% of the subjects had been admitted to hospital (average length of stay, 6.6 days), 11% of employed subjects had to take time off, 93% of subjects had taken prescribed medication (87%), but 43% of people thought it was ineffective. The effect on daily life was considerable (score, 6.2/10; close to the score for flu, 7/10). Two-thirds of the individuals changed their diet; 54% said it affected their social life and 29% their professional life. Seventy-four per cent of patients trusted their doctor, with a satisfaction index of 63%, but 45% of patients would like to have more information on IBS. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that the Rome II criteria detected IBS with a prevalence of 4.7%. The recruited subjects had severe symptoms (frequency, intensity and duration) that had a considerable effect on their daily life. The high level of referrals and initial consultations in all categories and the patient's attitudes towards the illness and its treatment emphasize the relative ineffectiveness of care for patients suffering from IBS.

Adult↗

Endoluminal therapies for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

CONTEXT: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a common chronic disorder that has severe impact on quality of life and often requires continuous acid-suppression therapy. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are extremely effective but expensive, and do not restore the normal antireflux barrier at the gastro-oesophageal junction. Antireflux surgery, even with the laparoscopic approach, has not proven more cost-effective than maintenance therapy with PPIs. Postoperative morbidity is substantial, especially when procedures are done outside expert centres. In the past few years several endoscopic techniques have been developed to treat chronic GORD on an outpatient basis. These techniques include radiofrequency-energy delivery and endoscopic suturing, although other approaches are now under development. STARING POINT: Two prospective open-label studies have recently reported 1-year follow-up of GORD patients treated either by radiofrequency-energy delivery (G Triadafilopoulos and colleagues Gastrointest Endosc 2002; 55:149-56) or endoscopic suturing (Z Mahmood and colleagues Gut 2003; 52:34-39). In a US multicentre trial, Triadafilopoulos and colleagues delivered radiofrequency energy to the cardia and distal oesophagus in patients with chronic heartburn, regurgitation or both (the Stretta procedure). All patients were on continuous acid-suppression therapy, but none had severe oesophagitis or hiatus hernia of more than 2 cm. At 12 months, 94 patients available for follow-up showed significant improvement in GORD symptoms, quality of life, and oesophageal acid-exposure. The need for PPI therapy fell from 98% to 30% of patients. In the Mahmood study, 26 similar patients had endoscopic suturing in a single centre. After 1 year, symptoms and quality of life improved and the need for PPIs was reduced to 36% from 100%. In both studies, only minor complications occurred, none of which required specific therapeutic intervention. WHERE NEXT? An effective outpatient procedure to treat chronic GORD would represent a major step forward. However, further studies are needed before an endoscopic approach can be adopted, as none of the published trials are well-controlled studies. Longer follow-up is needed to ensure that relapses do not occur rapidly, complications do not occur more frequently with less skilled operators, or that endoscopic-induced changes do not complicate or compromise subsequent antireflux surgery. Comparative studies of the cost-effectiveness of endoscopic therapy should also include medical strategies such as intermittent or on-demand PPI therapy.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗

Colonic fermentation influences lower esophageal sphincter function in gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Colonic fermentation of carbohydrates is known to influence gastric and esophageal motility in healthy subjects. This study investigated the effects of colonic fermentation induced by oral administration of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: In the cross-over design used in the study, 9 patients with symptomatic GERD were administered a low-residue diet (i.e., 10 g fiber/day) during 2, 7-day periods, receiving either 6.6 g of FOS or placebo 3 times daily after meals. Each period was separated by a wash out of at least 3 weeks. On day 7, esophageal motility and pH were recorded in fasting conditions and after a test meal containing 6.6 g of FOS or placebo. Breath hydrogen concentrations (reflecting colonic fermentation) and plasma concentrations of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), peptide YY, and cholecystokinin were monitored. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, FOS led to a significant increase in the number of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs) and reflux episodes, esophageal acid exposure, and the symptom score for GERD. The integrated plasma response of GLP-1 was significantly higher after FOS than placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates increases the rate of TLESRs, the number of acid reflux episodes, and the symptoms of GERD. Although different mechanisms are likely to be involved, excess release of GLP-1 may account, at least in part, for these effects.

Administration, Oral↗

[How to treat after Helicobacter pylori eradication failure?].

Helicobacter pylori eradication failure generally concerns between 10 and 30% of the patients. When eradication failure occurs, it is necessary a) to try to identify the potential causes, b) to confirm the indication of eradicating H. pylori, and c) to choose a second line therapeutic strategy. Among the factors most frequently associated with failed eradication, are poor compliance, younger age, smoking, and weak gastric inflammatory activity. The major factor of resistance is related to the sensitivity of the bacterial strain to antibiotics used. In France, resistance to clarithromycin is around 10-15% and resistance to metronidazole around 30%. In order to limit development of resistance, it seems preferable to avoid associating clarithromycin and metronidazole in the first line treatment. At best, the first line treatment must follow the official recommendations (PPI-amoxicillin and clarithromycin). In the event of eradication failure, second line treatment calls upon tritherapy which, due to the low rate of resistance to amoxicillin, associates double-dose PPI, amoxicillin and the antibiotic not used during the first line treatment (metronidazole if clarithromycin was initially used and conversely). This approach allows to eradicate between 50 and 80% of the first-line failure patients. In case of further failure a culture with measurement of the strain sensitivity is required. Subsequent treatment associates PPI with the antibiotics to which the strain is sensitive for a longer duration. In some cases, other effective antibiotics, such as rifabutin, might be used in these circumstances.

Amoxicillin↗

[Digestive involvement of scleroderma].

Digestive involvement in systemic sclerosis is frequent and serious, because it provides morbidity and fatality. From the pathophysiologic point of view, the first step could be Raynaud-associated neural dysfunction, followed by smooth muscle atrophy then irreversible muscle fibrosis. Oesophageal disorder is common with its main consequence: the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease which could run into peptic erosive oesophagitis. Oesophageal manometry is the main diagnostic tool, gastrointestinal endoscopy helps to assess oesophageal mucosal inflammation and its possible sequels. Gastric involvement is rarely recognized but it is frequent in case of systematic investigation as well as small intestinal involvement which may provide a lot of complications: malabsorption, pseudoobstruction, bacterial overgrowth. At colonic level, anorectal involvement is frequent and leads to fecal incontinence and rectal prolapse. Reynold's syndrome is a special case which associates systemic sclerosis with primary biliary cirrhosis. The symptomatic treatments must be systematic and improve the disease's overall prognosis.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Comparison of quality of life and anorectal function after artificial sphincter implantation.

PURPOSE: Quality of life, a major outcome parameter in the treatment of anal incontinence, has not been assessed after artificial sphincter implantation. The purpose of this single-center, prospective, nonrandomized study was to assess quality-of-life differences in patients before and after artificial sphincter implantation and compare them with clinical incontinence scores and anal manometry. METHODS: Quality of life was assessed in 16 patients (14 females; mean age, 43 years) consecutively implanted with an Acticon Neosphincter. The Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale, a quality-of-life instrument specifically designed for analysis of anal incontinence, included 27 items grouped in four domains: lifestyle, coping/behavior, depression/self-perception, and embarrassment. Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale score (0 to 1, with 1 indicating better quality of life) was calculated preoperatively and postoperatively and compared with the Fecal Incontinence Score (on a scale of 0 to 120, with 120 being complete incontinence), an evacuation score, and maximal resting pressure. RESULTS: At a mean (standard deviation) of 25 (15) months,12 patients had an activated device, and 11 had satisfactory anorectal function. Significant improvement was observed postoperatively in the four separate quality-of-life domains. Mean (standard deviation) Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale scores increased from 0.44 (0.14) preoperatively to 0.86 (0.18), 0.94 (0.06), and 0.83 (0.16) at 6, 12, and 24 months after implantation, respectively. For the same time periods, the mean (standard deviation) Fecal Incontinence Scores were 105 (14), 24 (26), 32 (35), and 32 (28), respectively (P< 0.05). A linear correlation was found between the improvement over time in quality of life measured by the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale and clinical evaluation of incontinence measured by the Fecal Incontinence Score (r2 = 0.97; P = 0.03). Mean (standard deviation) maximal resting pressure increased similarly from 42 (24) cm H2O preoperatively to 97 (23) cm H2O at the end of follow-up (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: After artificial sphincter implantation, quality of life as assessed by a new Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale instrument was significantly improved. These results correlated with clinical assessment of anal incontinence and were associated with a significant increase in maximal anal resting pressure on manometry.

Adult↗

Gastric electrical stimulation in intractable symptomatic gastroparesis.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of gastroparesis remains unsatisfactory despite prokinetic and anti-emetic drugs. Gastric electrical stimulation has been proposed as a therapeutic option. We have assessed the effect of gastric electrical stimulation on symptoms, medical treatment, body weight and gastric emptying in patients with intractable symptomatic gastroparesis in a non-placebo-controlled study. METHODS: In this multicenter study, 38 highly symptomatic patients with drug-refractory gastroparesis were enrolled. Patients first received temporary electrical stimulation using percutaneous electrodes. The 33 responders to temporary stimulation then underwent surgical implantation of a permanent stimulator. Severity of vomiting and nausea was assessed before and after stimulation. Patients were reassessed 3, 6, and 12 months after permanent implantation. RESULTS: With stimulation, 35/38 patients (97%) experienced >80% reduction in vomiting and nausea. This effect persisted throughout the observation period (2.9-15.6 months, 341 patient-months). Gastric emptying did not initially change, but improved in most patients at 12 months. At 1 year, the average weight gain was 5.5% and 9/14 patients initially receiving enteral or parenteral nutrition were able to discontinue it. CONCLUSION: Electrical stimulation of the stomach has an immediate and potent anti-emetic effect. It offers a safe and effective alternative for patients with intractable symptomatic gastroparesis.

Adolescent↗